The Writing Prompt Boot Camp

Poetic Form: The Blitz Poem

A few poets have asked me over the past year to write up something about the blitz poem, which I’d never tried or even heard of before. So I did a little research, and it actually looks pretty fun. It was created by Robert Keim and is a 50-line poem of short phrases and images.

Here are the rules:

Line 1 should be one short phrase or image (like “build a boat”)

Line 2 should be another short phrase or image using the same first word as the first word in Line 1 (something like “build a house”)

Lines 3 and 4 should be short phrases or images using the last word of Line 2 as their first words (so Line 3 might be “house for sale” and Line 4 might be “house for rent”)

Lines 5 and 6 should be short phrases or images using the last word of Line 4 as their first words, and so on until you’ve made it through 48 lines

Line 49 should be the last word of Line 48

Line 50 should be the last word of Line 47

The title of the poem should be three words long and follow this format: (first word of Line 3) (preposition or conjunction) (first word of line 47)

There should be no punctuation

There are a lot of rules, but it’s a pretty simple and fun poem to write once you get the hang of it.

Here’s my attempt:

“House of puddles”

Build a boatBuild a houseHouse for saleHouse for rentRent to ownRent a phonePhone a friendPhone homeHome aloneHome before bedBed and breakfastBed headHead for coverHead for the hillsHills and valleysHills of goldGold rushGold for cashCash for goldCash that checkCheck your messagesCheck your backBack in timeBack against the wallWall of noiseWall fall downDown with youDown and outOut and aboutOut for the countCount your blessingsCount the waysWays to liveWays you smileSmile and laughSmile like you mean itIt ain’t no thangIt is what it isIs it notIs this poetryPoetry is musicPoetry is loveLove your poetryLove the rainRain falls downRain makes puddlesPuddles are wetPuddles of loveLove…Wet…

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33 thoughts on “Poetic Form: The Blitz Poem”

Wheels turn
Wheels churning
Churning progress
Churning ever faster
Faster ever faster
Faster to work
Work churns
Work to feed the engine
Engine fuels progress
Engine fuels the ratrace
Ratrace makes more rats
Ratrace spins pistons
Pistons burn
Pistons turn
15 burn the rat wheel
Burn the time card
Wheels creak on
Weels grind away
away goes time
Away goes peace
peace never has a chance
Peace always looses in the end
chance is only a glimmer
Chance is only momentary
Glimmer of trust pales
Glimmer of hope fade
fade away loose all hope
Fade out
out goes the work place
Out goes home life
place of work comes first
Home life comes second
Second tick away
Second by second life bleeds
away to the work grind
Away from writing
grind away at boredom
Grind away at 9 to 5
Five oclock comes too late
Five oclock never comes
late always late
Late late again
Again the days progress
Again the days endure
progress goes nowhere
Progress stalls
Stall and lurk
Stall and avoid
Avoid
lurk

Wash my hair
Wash my face
Face the future
Face the west
West is best
Westward bound
Bound by love
Bound to fail
Fail to perform
Fail to show
Show me yours
Show and tell
Tell me a secret
Tell me your dreams
Dreams are forever
Dreams do come true
True love
True or false
False teeth
False witness
Witness protection
Witness the strength
Strength of heart
Strength in numbers
Numbers to ten
Numbers to count
Count me in
Count the stars
Stars in the sky
Stars in your eyes
Eyes watching over
Eyes in my head
Head over heels
Head on over
Over the rainbow
Over the moon
Moon in the distance
Moon shine
Shine on me
Shine like the sun
Sun rising
Sun set
Set yourself down
Set the table
Table for two
Table for one
One shining star
One little wish
Wish
Star

Baby steps
Baby grows
Grows in height
Grows to toddler
Toddler walks
Toddler is not bald
Bald is not balled
Bald is not bawled
Bawled all night
Bawled her eyes out
Out of stories
Out of patience
Patience is learned
Patience is difficult
Difficult two year-olds
Difficult to train
Train your child
Train schedule
Schedule play dates
Schedule homework time
Time to study
Time for pride
Pride in child
Pride in teenagers
Teenagers are developing
Teenagers need privacy
Privacy is right
Privacy is necessary
Necessary clothing
Necessary to you
You are an adult
You are a mother
Mother, please
Mother works hard
Hard to raise children
Hard to get older
Older than you
Older by the moment
Moment of sadness
Moment is brief
Brief time passes
Brief me on her condition
Condition lacks hope
Condition is serious
Serious thoughts
Serious needs
Needs slow steps
Needs like a baby
Baby
Steps

Join the group
Join the fun
Fun is writing
Fun is sharing
Sharing thoughts
Sharing ideas
Ideas on topics
Ideas on poetry
Poetry expresses
Poetry conveys
Conveys a story
Conveys emotions
Emotions make you cry
Emotions make you laugh
Laugh out loud
Laugh with another
Another day is here
Another verse to write
Write with pencil
Write with pen
Pen and paper
Pen and ink
Ink spots on carpet
Ink well
Well deserved
Well done
Done at last
Done for the night
Night time
Night at the oasis
Oasis in the desert
Oasis musical group
Group of people
Group of words
Words with meaning
Words and sentences
Sentences have structure
Sentences are complete
Complete your work
Complete the challenge
Challenge yourself
Challenge the answer
Answer the question
Answer an email
Email a friend
Email poets
Poets have imagination
Poets have talent
Talent
Imagination

Tell a tale
Tell a lie
Lie to me
Lie very still
Still alive
Still waiting
Waiting for Godot
Waiting to exhale
Exhale and inhale
Exhale to elevate
Elevate liver enzymes
Elevate(or) music
Music of the Night
Music lyrics
Lyrics to your favorite song
Lyrics search
Search people
Search engines
Engines of creation
Engines for sale
Sale of the week
Sale by owner
Owner financing
Owner of a lonely heart
Heart murmur
Heart of darkness
Darkness falls
Darkness on the edge of town
Town of fools
Town of my childhood
Childhood memories
Childhood flames
Flames of war
Flames from a bonfire
Bonfire party
Bonfire of the Vanities
Vanities – the musical
Vanities skull bracelet
Bracelet patterns
Bracelet charms
Charms lollipops
Charms and chains
Chains of dew
Chains of honor
Honor points
Honor society
Society of illustrators
Society of scribes
Scribes
Illustrators

Love your enemies
Love your friends
Friends in need
Friends for life
Life is good
Life is short
Short skirts in
Short a fuse
Fuse has blown
Fuse two threads
Threads are long
Threads of gold
Gold is glittery
Gold is the standard
Standard deviation
Standard sets goals
Goals are set
Goals are met
Met for opera
Met my love
Love cures all
Love my dog
Dog barks at trucks
Dog is my pet
Pet peeves annoy
Pet food store
Store your goods
Store up thoughts
Thoughts are deep
Thoughts lead to action
Action takes place
Action on the set
Set your priorities
Set things in motion
Motion picture industry
Motion on the ocean
Ocean riptide
Ocean of faces
Faces full of fear
Faces tell the story
Story of a boy
Story told in pictures
Pictures of vacation
Pictures of space
Space is the final frontier
Space is deep dark indigo
Indigo tinted world
Indigo violet
Violet
World

Listen for the jackdaw
listen to dawn
dawn breaks your heart
dawn makes news
news of the republic
news outdated
outdated or embryonic
outdated ways of doing
doing wrong
doing the laundry
laundry money
laundry on the line
line up in order
line dance or square dance
dance with me
dance of stars above
above it all
above a blitzed city
city in blackout
city at twilight
twilight in burka
twilight of the will
will and testament
will we come again
again forever
again that bad habit
habit to break
habit of silence
silence is golden
silence of horses
horses are wishes
horses run free
free and easy
free to go
go for it
go a long way
way path alley
way to wander
wander lust
wander as I wonder
wonder about tomorrow
wonder at joy
joy or sorrow
joy of a sunbeam
sunbeam through blinds
sunbeam or shadow
shadow shine
shadow of earth
earth
shine

hold me close
hold your applause
applause mean nothing
applause fall through
through the pain
through the rain
rain a frown
rain it down
down to my home
down to my hand
hand me a towel
hand me a new heart
heart to heart
heart to head
head somewhere new
head in the clouds
clouds my judgment
clouds my silver lining
lining a soul with ice under
lining forgotten phrases
phrases spent
phrases rent
rent in two
rent this space
space for rent
space to breathe
breathe in
breathe out
out you go
out with the old
old unfolds
old dies
dies cast
dies last
last place
last wrong turn
turn the tables
turn the other cheek
cheek with bruise
cheek to choose
choose your poison
choose your path
path to freedom
path along the stream
stream of conscious
stream to falls
falls down around her
falls under his spells
spells
her

It can soothe
It can mend
Mend a heart
Mend the torn
Torn in sorrow
Torn in misery
Misery cruel
Misery dark
Dark as night
Dark without dawn
Dawn of rebirth
Dawn of new hope
Hope pain will end
Hope joy will come
Come welcome true love
Come sing its praises
Praises in song
Praises in dance
Dance a quick step
Dance a slow gliding
Gliding from heartbreak
Gliding through gardens
Gardens of color
gardens sweet smelling
Smelling the flowers
Smelling of new day
Day to begin
Day to say yes
Yes to God’s blessings
Yes to each breath
Breath to speak kindness
Breath without lies
Lies about feelings
Lies that we say
Say instead truth
Say without fear
Fear cannot hurt you
Fear falls away
39 Away like bad dreams
Away from our sight
Sight’s not enough
Sight’s only half there
There’s more than the eye
There’s more than to see
See with your heart
See if love can endure
Endure for all time
Endure beyond this
This
Time

Silent dreams
Silent echoes
Echoes of sin
Echoes within
Within the secrets
Within the rules
Rules to make
Rules to break
Break speed
Break dreams
Dreams destroyed
Dreams honored
Honored victims
Honored heroes
Heroes in darkness
Heroes in light
Light in flight
Light of hope
Hope and scope
Hope reborn
Reborn promises
Reborn city
City sincere
City of fear
Fear then faith
Fear souvenir
Souvenir shops
Souvenir junk
Junk graffiti
Junk throughout
Throughout the subway
Throughout my mind
Mind over matter
Mind behind
Behind the scenes
Behind New York
New York City
New York scene
Scene on Broadway
Scene of obscene
Obscene peddlers
Obscene gestures
Gestures from drivers
Gestures of kindness
Kindness within
Kindness without
Without the realms
Without doubt
Doubt
Without

Babies are us
Babies don’t stop
Stop and let our paths cross
Stop parading yours
Yours is a blessing
Yours is a dream
Dreams should come true
Dreams are for folks like you
You rule the world
You and your little girl
Girls are fun
Girls if only one
One trip missed by the stork
One bird ends up in New York
New York is one toll away
New York better wait
Wait for a sign
Wait for a miracle
Miracle baby
Miracles work
Work lies ahead
Work that fulfills
Fulfill my need
Fulfill my wish
Wish upon a star
Wish away
Away with sadness
Away with tears
Tears of joy
Tears for a boy
Boy adds to family tree
Boy makes three
Three is bedtime stories
Three is tucking you in
Inside my dreams
In all my poems
Poems written for you
Poems for my child
Children don’t come cheap
Childless couple weeps
Weeping is no shame
Weeping in the rain
Raining cats and dogs
Rain for kids I hope
Hope for the weatherman
Hope he hears I pray
Pray for scattered showers
Pray for a baby
Baby
Shower

Hi, still in LA, won’t be able to tackle this one for a while. Have seen Marie, Nikki, De, and Colette; meeting Ellyn Maybe, too. Maybe I’ll pitch an interview to her, Robert? She’s a real up and comer in the world of poetry.

Please keep me in thoughts and prayers for journey home. Driving cross country was AMAZING. Everyone should be so privileged. But it’s been mostly work until today, when I saw Colette and friend and we sat out until I burned a bit, despite my sunscreen…

Old Man River
Old-Fashioned Love Song
Song For You
Song Sung Blue
Blue Bayou
Blue Moon
Moon Over Miami
Moon Dance
Dance the Night Away
Dance With Me
Me and You and A Dog Named Boo
Me and My Shadow
Shadow Dancing
Shadow of Your Smile
Smile a Little Smile For Me
Smile Like You Mean It
It Takes More
It Won’t Be Long
Long, Long, Long
Long and Winding Road
Road Song
Road House Blues
Blue Eyes
Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Rain on the Roof
Raindrops are Falling on My Head
Head Games
Head Over Heart
Heartless
Heart on Fire
Fire and Rain
Fire and Ice
Ice Cream Man
Ice, Ice Baby
Baby, I’m A Want You
Baby Love
Love Roller Coaster
Love on the Rocks
Rock me gently
Rock and Roll All Night
Night Fever
Night and Day
Daydream Believer
Day Break
Break it to Me Gently
Break it Up
Up, Up and Away
Up on the Roof
Roof…
Away…

Hi all. My first time posting here. I notice everyone pastes their poem into the comments; is it not allowed to just post a link? Just wondering. Really enjoyed this prompt – thank you!

Land of Crazy
American dream
American land
Land of promise
Land of pain
Pain for gain
Pain for pleasure
Pleasure cruise
Pleasure in things
Things to wear
Things to fill
Fill the hole
Fill the bag
Bag the deal
Bag of gold
Gold on your fingers
Gold in your safe
Safe and sound
Safe in your house
House arrest
House of lies
Lies black
Lies white
White guilt
White washed
Washed brain
Washed soul
Soul for sale
Soul lost
Lost in a crowd
Lost in freedom
Freedom of speech
Freedom of pursuit
Pursuit of cash
Pursuit of trash
Trash from China
Trash on TV
TV addicts
TV culture
Culture of excess
Culture war
War crimes
War on drugs
Drugs to sedate
Drugs to control
Control the masses
Control the crazy
Crazy asylum
Crazy hope
Hope
Asylum

Generation of Power
Beat the clock
Beat generation
Generation of vipers
Generation X
X-ray
X marks the spot
Spot cleaning
Spot, the dog
Dog tired
Dog day
Day of Infamy
Day time
Time line
Time travel
Travel and tourism
Travel writing
Writing poetry
Writing a novel
Novel use of imagery
Novel reading
Reading lessons
Reading books
Books-a-million
Books a room
Room of one’s own
Room to grow
Grow tomatoes
Grow and develop
Develop real estate
Develop my soul
Soul train
Soul search
Search the web
Search and rescue
Rescue squad
Rescue swimming
Swimming pool
Swimming lesson
Lesson for life
Lesson plan
Plan a party
Plan to do lunch
Lunch time
Lunch hour
Hour of prayer
Hour of power
Power play
Power house
Play
House.

Love this form. Here’s my first effort. I must be in a bleak mood today!

Heart and Head

Have a seat
Have a heart
Heart of gold
Heart beating slow
Slow moving traffic
Slow and smooth
Smooth as butter
Smooth talking shark
Shark tooth necklace
Shark fin soup
Soup like fog
Soup to nuts
Nuts and bolts
Nuts for you
You undo me
You make rainbows
Rainbows falling fast
Rainbows promising treasure
Treasure hidden deep
Treasure island rich
Rich as royals
Rich Turkish delight
Delight my eyes
Delight of lovers
Lovers come together
Lovers impassioned fight
Fight over nothing
Fight for life
Life without meaning
Life slowly ebbing
Ebbing last tide
Ebbing like evening
Evening the surface
Evening the odds
Odds against winning
Odds and socks
Socks and slippers
Socks left alone
Alone without hope
Alone at last
Last chance saloon
Last flight out
Out of luck
Out of mind
Mind how you go
Mind your head
Head to bed
Head home alone
Bed…
Alone…

Yikes, I found this form challenging. But it was fun to try to write in those constraints. I really tried hard to avoid cliches.

Braces Across the Stars

New glasses
New braces
Braces off my legs
Braces off my back
Back me in a corner
Back me to a wall
Wall me off from help
Wall me from my friends
Friends whisper to strangers
Friends stare rudely
Rudely call my name
Rudely pull my hair
Hair once bouncy frizzles
Hair once shiny dulls
Dulls like a pencil
Dulls like a droning symphony
Symphony of dissonant notes
Symphony without a conductor
Conductor get me off the train
Conductor rewire my brain
Brain like pudding
Brain like a sponge
Sponge soaking up the sea
Sponge bathe this old man
Man without life
Man without wife
Wife praises daughter
Wife shakes finger as son
Son buries self in books
Son stuck in a box of glass
Glass grows cloudy
Glass grows clear
Clear the table
Clear the room
Room full of stale air
Room to grow
Grow up rich
Grow up fast
Fast forty days
Fast forty nights
Nights cold
Nights alone
Alone at last
Alone in the dark
Dark no moon
Dark no stars
Stars streak sky
Stars balls of flame
Flame
Sky

feed the hunger
feed the dog
dog him down
dog days of summer
summer of love
summer break
break bread
break in the weather
weather the storm
weather, or not
not what you think
knot now, or ever
ever my love
everest snow
snow picnic
snowly we fall
fall on your knees
fall in leave
leaves on the path
leaves me shaken
shaken like dreams
shaken not stirred
stirred up like ants
stirring his speech
speech impediment
speech therapy
therapy, psycho
they’re happy than most
most likely to succeed
most of the time
time after time
time is a river
river Styx
river of tears
tears of the crocodile
tears of a clown
clowning around
clown suit
suit up
suit yourself
yourself and you
your self image
image retention
image problem
problem arise
problem child
child of our love
child unwanted
unwanted
love

Write one word
write two words
Words tell secrets
words form lies
Lies spread
lies lock
Lock down
lock the door
Door to nowhere
door on the right
Right to left
right at the light
Light the candles
light the inscence
Incense burns slow
incense smells sweet
Sweet cherrie of summer
sweet surrender
Surrender your arms
surrender your women
Women I love
women dance naked
Naked and exposed
naked juice to drink
Drink to your health
drink to this moment
Moment to think
moment to care
Care to share
care for you
You stand alone
you are loved
Loved by this pen
loved once is enough
Enough is enough
enough of a good thing
Thing to keep
Thing person place
Place of your own
place to rest
Rest your weary head
rest in peace
Peace in the middle east
peace be with you
You are my dad
you are wonderful
Wonderful and full of wonder
wonderful birthday wishes
wishes…
wonderful…
Annie welch

Left or right,
left behind.
Behind the eight ball,
behind the times.
Time’s a wasting.
Time on my hands.
Hands across the water.
Hands in the air.
Air to breathe,
Air guitars and
guitar solos.
Guitar string.
String of pearls.
String me along.
Along the watchtower.
Along the way.
Way to go.
Way off base.
Base salary,
Baseball game.
Game of life,
Game of chance.
Chance encounter,
chance meeting.
Meeting of the minds.
Meeting for dinner.
Dinner dishes
Dinner and a movie.
Movie night.
Movie theater.
Theater lobby,
theater in the round.
Round, round, right round
round about way.
Way to go
way back when.
When will I learn?
When is dinner served.
Served a la carte,
served on the side.
Side by side
Side of fries,
fries and ketchup,
fries in my eyes.
Eyes only for you
eyes on the prize
prize package
prize: large or small
small…
package…

Crack the case
Crack a window
Window shoppers
Window of opportunity
Opportunity of a lifetime
Opportunity’s passing
Passing grade
Passing fancy
Fancy ketchup
Fancy that
That girl
That’s right
Right away
Right ’round
‘Round here
‘Round about
About time
About face
Face your fears
Face the facts
Facts and figures
Facts of life
Life of crime
Life sentence
Sentence structure
Sentence to death
Death sentence
Death Rides A Horse
Horse and cart
Horse stable
Stable condition
Stable hand
Hand it over
Hand of God
God’s wrath
God Bless America
America we stand
America the Beautiful
Beautiful bliss
Beautiful game
Game the system
Game over
Over the hill
Over under
Under arrest
Under-stand
Stand for what’s right
Stand and Deliver
Deliver . . .
Right . . .

All my time.
All day long.
Long ago; far away.
Long hard Look.
Look, don’t leap.
Look for love.
Love roller coaster.
Love for life.
Life to live.
Life and liberty.
Liberty is not free.
Liberty or death.
Death of a Salesman.
Death takes a holiday.
Holiday for two.
Holiday seasons.
Seasons of love.
Seasons and reasons.
Reasons to live.
Reasons to give.
Give me a moment.
Give me a dollar.
Dollar stores.
Dollar and a dream.
Dream of you.
Dream of me.
Me and my big mouth.
Me and my shadow.
Shadow puppets and
shadow dancing.
Dancing on the ceiling.
Dancing in the dark.
Dark eyes and mystery.
Dark day; bright night.
Night of the meek.
Night for fun.
Fun for all.
Fun and fancy-free.
Free pass.
Free wheel.
Wheel of fortune,
wheel of fire.
Fire in the hole.
Fire in your heart.
Hearts and flowers.
Heart and soul.
Soul train.
Soul brothers.
Brothers in arms.
Brother love.
Love…
Arms…